KTM's Cervantes in close battle with Ahola in E2

2010-05-23 20:26
KTM Enduro Factory Racing's Ivan Cervantes of Spain spent the weekend in mortal combat with arch rival Mika Ahola to finish with 44 championship points for his two second places in the E2 division of the GP of Italy.

"Ivan was fighting with Ahola the whole weekend and on Sunday there was just a margin of 0.17 between them," Factory team boss Fabio Farioli reported on Sunday. Cervantes and Ahola have split first and second places in all races so far held this season.

Good points contribution from KTM's Oldrati
The team's overall performance was further enhanced by two solid fourth places by Cervantes' Italian teammate Thomas Oldrati who was enthusiastically supported by the large crown in what is the true heartland of Enduro racing. Meanwhile EWC rookie Pierre-Alexandre Renet of France was also impressive on his KTM, twice finishing in third place in the two weekend races.

South Africachampion and KTM rider de Wet rides with the world's best
Also making an appearance in Europe on the E2 GP circuit was South Africa's National Enduro Champion and KTM rider, 25-year-old Altus de Wet. He finished in twenty second place on Saturday and improved two places to twentieth on Sunday. Altus told KTM South Africa that it was "a dream come true" for him to have the opportunity to test his skills against the world's top riders at the Italian GP. He received support from his sponsors and Team KTM Farioli to make it happen.

Racers had their time cut out on the three lap circuit with plenty of rocks to master, a French style cross test in a grassy meadow an Italian-style Enduro Test and a super test on the edge of a river with plenty of rocks and sand.

E2 Results Day One
1. Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
2. Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM
3. Pierre Alexandre Renet, France, KTM
4. Thomas Oldrati, Italy, KTM
5. Rodrig Thain, France, TM

E2 Results Day Two
1. Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda
2. Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM
3. Pierre Alexandre Renet, France, KTM
4. Thomas Oldrati, Italy, KTM
5. Rodrig Thain, France, TM

E2 Championship standings after six rounds
1. Mika Ahola, Finland, Honda, 144 points
2. Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM, 138
3. Thomas Oldrati, Italy, KTM, 104
4. Pierre Alexandre Renet, France, KTM, 94
5. Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg, 86

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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